Tommi Mäkinen
Mäkinen in 2016
Personal information
NationalityFinland Finnish
Born (1964-06-26) 26 June 1964
Puuppola, Jyväskylä, Finland
World Rally Championship record
Active years1987–2003
Co-driverFinland Kaj Lindström
Finland Risto Mannisenmäki
Finland Seppo Harjanne
Finland Timo Hantunen
TeamsMitsubishi, Subaru World Rally Team, Nissan
Rallies139
Championships4 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
Rally wins24
Podiums45
Stage wins361
Total points544
First rally1987 1000 Lakes Rally
First win1994 1000 Lakes Rally
Last win2002 Monte Carlo Rally
Last rally2003 Rally Great Britain

Tommi Antero Mäkinen (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈtomːi ˈmækinen]; born 26 June 1964) is a Finnish racing executive and former driver.

Mäkinen is one of the most successful WRC drivers of all time, ranking fifth in rally wins (24) and third in championships (4), tied with Juha Kankkunen behind Sébastien Ogier (8) and Sébastien Loeb (9). In 2018, as a head of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, he became the first person in the history of rally driving to win a Championship both as a driver and as a team principal.[1]

He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. He also aided Mitsubishi to the 1998 world constructors' title as well as winning the 2000 Race of Champions. Mäkinen's navigators include compatriots Seppo Harjanne, Kaj Lindström and Risto Mannisenmäki, the former retiring from alongside Mäkinen having previously served 1985 champion, and fellow "Flying Finn", Peugeot's Timo Salonen.

Career

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III, which Mäkinen used in the 1996 Rally Finland

Mäkinen won the Group N Finnish Rally Championship driving a Lancia Delta HF 4WD in 1988. Mäkinen's first world rally win came on the 1994 1000 Lakes Rally (now Rally Finland), in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. Mäkinen proved a late developer by the standards of some in rallying circles, only nabbing his first full-time manufacturer seat in a Group A formula Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution alongside former Group A rally champion Swede Kenneth Eriksson, in 1995 - but success was to prove spontaneous thereafter.

A cultured Safari Rally win in 1996 proved the platform on which to build a dominant championship lead, which he consolidated by taking the title in Australia, away from runner-up, Subaru's Colin McRae - a long-time rival. He proceeded to win every drivers' title for Mitsubishi from 1996 to 1999. The Mitsubishi team, with the Finn and young Briton Richard Burns among its driver personnel, also won its sole manufacturers' championship in 1998, while late that same year, the licensed Tommi Mäkinen Rally video game was also released. In 2000, despite opening his campaign with victory on the January Monte Carlo Rally, Mäkinen finally relinquished his grasp on the title, being beaten in the standings by new title holder and fellow Finn, Marcus Grönholm. That year Mitsubishi produced a 'Tommi Mäkinen edition' of the road version of the Lancer Evolution VI to commemorate his previous title successes. This car had a different front bumper than the regular Evolution VI, while some models also featured a red and white paint job to closely resemble Mäkinen's rally car.[2]

Mäkinen with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo at the 2001 Rally Finland.

Mäkinen remained with Mitsubishi until the end of the 2001 season, having finished third in that year's standings behind Burns and McRae, by now respectively drivers for Subaru and Ford - but not before the inauspicious introduction of team's first ever World Rally Car on the San Remo Rally. Mäkinen and teammate Freddy Loix struggled with the car before the Finn's crash on the mountainside roads of the following round in Corsica was responsible for breaking co-driver Mannisenmäki's back and in doing so, virtually ended his top-line career. The Finn was forced to fare with substitute co-drivers for the remaining events in Australia (with Timo Hantunen) and Great Britain, the latter of which he retired from, helping Burns to claim the championship.

Mäkinen achieved his last victory with Subaru.

A move to the Prodrive-run Subaru World Rally Team for 2002 as replacement for Burns (who had chosen to drive a works Peugeot 206 WRC alongside Grönholm for his title defence) yielded one more, final career victory, on the 2002 Monte Carlo Rally where a technical infringement committed by on-the-road winner, and emerging talent, Sébastien Loeb, allowed Mäkinen to upstage the Frenchman. But his form then took a dive and he was not to add again to his tally of world titles.

He retired from the sport after the 2003 season, ending his WRC career on the podium with third place on that seasons final rally, Rally Great Britain.

In 2004 he established his own company named Tommi Mäkinen Racing Oy Ltd with the aim to prepare rally cars and provide support to drivers.[3]

In 2016, Mäkinen became the team principal of the Toyota Gazoo Racing, which is the factory team of Toyota and competes in the World Rally Championship (WRC). In 2018, the team managed to win the World Rally Championship earning Toyota their first manufacturers' title since 1999.[4]

Personal life

Mäkinen was born in Puuppola, near Jyväskylä, Finland. From 1999, he has lived in both Monaco and Jyväskylä. He is married, with two children.

WRC victories

Number Event Season Co-driver Car
1 Finland 44th 1000 Lakes Rally 1994 Seppo Harjanne Ford Escort RS Cosworth
2 Sweden 45th International Swedish Rally 1996 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
3 Kenya 44th Safari Rally Kenya 1996 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
4 Argentina 16º Rally Argentina 1996 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
5 Finland 46th Neste 1000 Lakes Rally 1996 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
6 Australia 9th API Rally Australia 1996 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3
7 Portugal 30º TAP Rallye de Portugal 1997 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
8 Spain 33º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) 1997 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
9 Argentina 17º Rally Argentina 1997 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
10 Finland 47th Neste Rally Finland 1997 Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
11 Sweden 47th International Swedish Rally 1998 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
12 Argentina 18º Rally Argentina 1998 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
13 Finland 48th Neste Rally Finland 1998 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
14 Italy 40º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 1998 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
15 Australia 11th API Rally Australia 1998 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5
16 Monaco 67ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 1999 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
17 Sweden 48th International Swedish Rally 1999 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
18 New Zealand 29th Rally New Zealand 1999 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
19 Italy 41º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia 1999 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
20 Monaco 68ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 2000 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
21 Monaco 69ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 2001 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5
22 Portugal 35º TAP Rallye de Portugal 2001 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5
23 Kenya 49th Safari Rally Kenya 2001 Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5
24 Monaco 70ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo 2002 Kaj Lindström Subaru Impreza WRC2001

WRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points
1987 Tommi Mäkinen Lancia Delta HF 4WD MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN
Ret		 CIV ITA GBR - 0
1988 Tommi Mäkinen Lancia Delta HF 4WD MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN
Ret		 CIV ITA - 0
Mu-Uutiset 4 Rombi Corse Lancia Delta Integrale GBR
Ret
1989 Tommi Mäkinen Lancia Delta Integrale SWE
Ret		 MON POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN
Ret		 AUS ITA CIV GBR - 0
1990 Pro Sport Rally Team Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 MON POR KEN FRA GRC NZL
6		 ARG FIN
11		 AUS
7		 ITA
13		 CIV GBR
Ret		 24th 10
1991 Promoracing Finland Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 MON SWE
13		 31st 8
Tommi Mäkinen POR
Ret		 KEN FRA GRC
Promoracing Finland Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 NZL
Ret		 ARG
Mazda Rally Team Europe Mazda 323 GTX FIN
5		 AUS ITA CIV ESP GBR
Ret
1992 Nissan Motorsports Europe Nissan Sunny GTI-R MON
9		 SWE POR
Ret		 KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN
Ret		 AUS ITA CIV ESP GBR
8		 40th 5
1993 Astra Lancia Delta HF Integrale MON SWE
4		 POR KEN FRA GRE
6		 ARG NZL FIN
4		 AUS ITA ESP GBR 10th 26
1994 Nissan F2 Nissan Sunny GTI MON POR
Ret		 KEN FRA GRE ARG NZL GBR
9		 10th 22
Ford Motor Co Ford Escort RS Cosworth FIN
1
Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II ITA
Ret
1995 Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II MON
4		 SWE
2		 5th 38
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III POR FRA
8		 NZL
Ret		 AUS
4		 ESP
Ret		 GBR
Ret
1996 Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III SWE
1		 KEN
1		 IDN
Ret		 GRE
2		 ARG
1		 FIN
1		 AUS
1		 ITA
Ret		 ESP
5		 1st 123
1997 Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV MON
3		 SWE
3		 KEN
Ret		 POR
1		 ESP
1		 FRA
Ret		 ARG
1		 GRE
3		 NZL
Ret		 FIN
1		 IDN
Ret		 ITA
3		 AUS
2		 GBR
6		 1st 63
1998 Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV MON
Ret		 SWE
1		 KEN
Ret		 POR
Ret		 1st 58
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V ESP
3		 FRA
Ret		 ARG
1		 GRE
Ret		 NZL
3		 FIN
1		 ITA
1		 AUS
1		 GBR
Ret
1999 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI MON
1		 SWE
1		 KEN
DSQ		 POR
5		 ESP
3		 FRA
6		 ARG
4		 GRE
3		 NZL
1		 FIN
Ret		 CHN
Ret		 ITA
1		 AUS
3		 GBR
Ret		 1st 62
2000 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI MON
1		 SWE
2		 KEN
Ret		 POR
Ret		 ESP
4		 ARG
3		 GRE
Ret		 NZL
Ret		 FIN
4		 CYP
5		 FRA
Ret		 ITA
3		 AUS
DSQ		 GBR
3		 5th 36
2001 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 MON
1		 SWE
Ret		 POR
1		 ESP
3		 ARG
4		 CYP
Ret		 GRE
4		 KEN
1		 FIN
Ret		 NZL
8		 3rd 41
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII WRC ITA
Ret		 FRA
Ret		 AUS
6		 GBR
Ret
2002 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC2001 MON
1		 SWE
Ret		 8th 22
Subaru Impreza WRC2002 FRA
Ret		 ESP
Ret		 CYP
3		 ARG
Ret		 GRE
Ret		 KEN
Ret		 FIN
6		 GER
7		 ITA
Ret		 NZL
3		 AUS
DSQ		 GBR
4
2003 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Impreza WRC2003 MON
Ret		 SWE
2		 TUR
8		 NZL
7		 ARG
Ret		 GRE
5		 CYP
Ret		 GER
Ret		 FIN
6		 AUS
6		 ITA
10		 FRA
7		 ESP
8		 GBR
3		 8th 30

WRC summary

Season Team Starts Victories Podiums Stage wins DNF Points Final result
1987 Private 1 0 0 0 1 0 NC
1988 Private 1 0 0 0 1 0 NC
Mu-Uutiset 4 Rombi Corse 1 0 0 0 1 0
1989 Private 2 0 0 0 2 0 NC
1990 Pro Sport Rally Team 5 0 0 0 1 10 24th
1991 Promoracing Finland 2 0 0 0 1 0 31st
Mazda Rally Team Europe 2 0 0 0 1 8
Private 1 0 0 0 1 0
1992 Nissan Motorsports Europe 4 0 0 1 2 5 40th
1993 Astra 3 0 0 3 0 26 10th
1994 Nissan F2 2 0 0 0 1 2 10th
Ford Motor Co 1 1 1 14 0 20
Mitsubishi Ralliart 1 0 0 0 1 0
1995 Mitsubishi Ralliart 7 0 1 24 3 38 5th
1996 Mitsubishi Ralliart 9 5 6 70 2 123 1st
1997 Mitsubishi Ralliart 14 4 9 78 4 63 1st
1998 Mitsubishi Ralliart 13 5 7 41 6 58 1st
1999 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart 14 4 7 56 3 62 1st
2000 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart 14 1 5 27 5 36 5th
2001 Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart 14 3 4 21 6 41 3rd
2002 555 Subaru World Rally Team 14 1 3 16 7 22 8th
2003 555 Subaru World Rally Team 14 0 2 10 4 30 8th
Total 139 24 45 361 53 544

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tommi Mäkinen on rallin Midas – näin Puuppolan päälliköstä tuli historiallinen maailmanmestari Toyotan tallipäällikkönä". Aamulehti (in Finnish). 18 November 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  2. ↑ "Trackside - Lancer Evo returns to rallying". AutoTrader.co.uk. 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
  3. ↑ "Tommi Mäkinen Racing – a former rally driver now champions wood heating" (PDF). VTT Technical research centre of Finland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Van Leeuwen, Andrew (18 November 2018). "Rally Australia: Latvala wins as Ogier, Toyota claim WRC titles". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
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